Welcome SWBTS!

A team of 18 from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary came to Sesheke right after Christmas and stayed about two weeks. They just left today and boy has it been quiet around here! In the mornings they had seminary classes and in the afternoons they would evangelize throughout Sesheke, concentrating on the areas around the Lodge they were staying in and also the area around the plot where the church will be located.
The top photo is a team picture taken at our place when we all ate together one night. Next is one of Dr. Eitel and his wife, Glenda, and also Art Savage. Dr. Eitel is the dean of missions at SWBTS and one of Mark's former professors. Art is also a professor and was Mark's partner on a mission trip to Cameroon the seminary took in 2006. We were SO blessed to have them here! They encouraged us so much and furthered the work of the kingdom of God as they and the whole team shared Jesus around town each day!!! On the bottom is Grandma Marsha, a dear woman of God who became a very special friend of Madylanne's during their stay.

Sharing the love of Jesus at the plot

Here are Tracy and Washer, two seminary students, sharing from the Word of God at the plot. Bo Dominik and Pastor Given translated and then met all the visitors so we can make sure to visit them at their homes. A great group of kids came too!

I love messes!

Look at me! See what I can do when you aren't looking Mom?? :)

playing in the rain

Matthew and Madylanne both love to play in the rain! (Ok, so Matthew's shot is AFTER he played in the rain.) We are just so thankful that it has rained a few times. Please keep sending the rain, Lord!

I love my kids

Here are some shots of the kids having fun and just being cute. Can you tell Madylanne likes this pose?? Mouth wide open with a big grin? ha You can barely see Matthew's little dimple on his right cheek- it only appears when he smiles real big.

Christmas day

Happy Birthday Jesus! We had a marvelous time celebrating the birth of Jesus with our church family- Baptist Mission of Sesheke- as they have agreed together to call it. They wanted to join Sesheke Baptist Church for worship so they could see what a Christmas service looked like. We were so blessed to be able to worship together! The top photo shows Pastor Given leading the Baptist Mission of Sesheke Church in two songs they had prepared and practiced. The bottom photo shows a boys group singing a song. We all ate lunch together afterward. Such a wonderful way to spend Christmas- celebrating our Savior's birth with His family!

Christmas morning

The kids had fun opening their stockings and one gift Christmas morning. Then later in the day after all our celebrations we opened the rest of our gifts. Thank You Lord, for sending Jesus, the best gift of all!!

Christmas fun...

These are photos of all the fun we had Christmas week. Our helpers and their families came over for a Christmas meal and the kids had fun playing in the canoe afterward (Mark found it along the river bank, it has lots of holes in the bottom). Pastor Edward from Sesheke Baptist Church and his wife Eden and their three sons also came over that week and had lunch with us one day. Thank You Lord for friends!